Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Past 2 Chapter 5

Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5

A branch of social science is history. The curriculum is a necessary component since it helps students understand historical events. Usually, there are too many dates listed in a textbook for students to memorise. The fifth chapter of Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 is Rulers and Buildings. What effect would a structure like the Qutb Minar have had on observers in the 13th century? Kings and their officials constructed two different types of buildings between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries: in the first type there were forts, palaces, and tombs. The second category included buildings designed for public use, such as mosques, tanks, wells, and bazaars. Chapter 5 Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Important Questions will help you learn more about rulers and structures.

One subject where students must pay close attention and read extensively is history. Social Science Our Pasts 2 Class 7 Chapter 5 Important Questions are put together by Extramarks specialists using the NCERT Textbook, other reference books, past exam questions, and other sources. Our history experts have created a list of step-by-step answers to help students comprehend each chapter. The Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 Important Questions are available to students who register with Extramarks.

In addition to Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5, students can easily access materials like NCERT Solutions, CBSE revision notes, past year question papers, NCERT books, and more on the Extramarks website.

Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 – With Solutions

A faculty who specialises in History of Extramarks has designed an entire list of Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 from various sources. These questions and solutions help students better understand Rulers and Buildings.

Mentioned below are a few Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 and their solutions:

Question 1. What role did the Yamuna play in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad?

Answer 1. The new Mughal city of Shahjahanabad was built up in a way that was significantly influenced by the Yamuna river. The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan’s greatest architectural achievement, adopted the riverfront garden’s design. The garden was south of the white marble tomb, situated on a terrace on the river’s edge. Shah Jahan created this architectural design to limit the aristocracy’s access to the river. The river was only accessible to the particularly favoured nobility, such as his firstborn son Dara Shukoh. The residences of everyone else had to be built in the city, far from the Yamuna.

Question 2. Discuss the engineering prowess between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries.

Answer 2. The following details help explain the engineering prowess during the eighth through the eighteenth centuries:

• Monuments built during this time are examples of the engineering or technology employed.
• The architectural tradition began concentrating on expanding buildings’ interior space during the seventh and eleventh centuries. This demonstrates advancement in engineering abilities.
• There was a lot of “trabeate” or “corbelled” architecture. It involved placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns to build roofs, doors, and windows. Between the seventh and twelfth centuries, this design was used to construct important buildings, including mosques and temples.
• Another excellent illustration of the architectural design prevalent in the twelfth century is arc-shaped construction. To support the weight of superstructures, arches had to be designed.
• High-quality limestone cement was also increasingly used to complete the construction process more quickly and easily.

Question 3. How does the ‘trabeate’ principle of architecture differ from the ‘arcuate’?

Answer 3. Architecture’s “trabeate” and “arcuate” principles are distinct. A horizontal beam was placed across two vertical columns to create roofs, doors, and windows according to the trabeate concept of architecture. However, under the arcuate design concept, arches supported the weight of the superstructure above the doorways and windows.

Question 4. Why were the temples created and then destroyed?

Answer 4. Temples have been constructed and destroyed for a variety of reasons.

Reasons behind constructing temples:

Kings used to build enormous temples to display their money, power, and superiority, as well as their devotion to a deity. For instance, King Rajarajadeva built the Rajarajeshvara temple to show devotion to his God Rajarajeshvaram. He intended to portray himself as a god by equating the titles of the king and the God.

Reasons behind destructing temples:

• First, because the temples represented the monarchs’ riches, they prized priceless, affluent items like gold. Therefore, it seems that during an empire’s invasion, opponents would first target the temples to steal the treasure.
• The temples also served as representations of the monarch’s might and pride. So, adversaries sought to undermine the king’s authority by demolishing the temples. For instance, during the Pandyan monarch Shrimara Shrivallabha’s invasion of Sri Lanka, he pillaged priceless items, including a gold Buddha statue and other golden statues and idols.

Question 5. How did the Mughal court suggest that everyone- the rich and poor, the powerful and the weak- received justice equally from the emperor?

Answer 5. According to the Mughal court, the emperor delivered justice in the following ways to everyone, regardless of wealth or position:

• Shah Jahan highlighted the relationship between royal justice and the imperial court in his freshly built court inside the Red Fort in Delhi.
• Shah Jahan’s throne was adorned with several pietra dura inlays that showed the mythical Greek deity Orpheus playing the lute. It was thought that Orpheus’ music could subdue wild animals until they could live in harmony.
• Shah Jahan’s audience hall was built to convey the message that the king’s justice would treat everyone equally and create a society in which everyone could coexist peacefully.

Question 6. What is a shikhara?

Answer 6. A “Shikhara” is the name of a Hindu temple’s tallest roof. The Rajarajeshvara temple in Thanjavur had the temple with the highest shikhara at the time. It was difficult to build since no cranes were available then, and the 90-ton stone that made up the top of the shikhara was too heavy to be lifted by hand.

Question 7. Which city did Shah Jahan establish?

Answer 7. Shah Jahan built the city of Shahjahanabad. A royal palace was situated in this new city across the Yamuna. Shahjahan restricted access to this location to the public. His son Dara Shukoh and a few other select nobles were the only ones who could enter the premises.

Question 8. Shah Jahan’s diwan-i-Khas inscribed in Delhi stated: “If there is a paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” How was this image created?

Answer 8. The various elements of Mughal architecture were combined into a vast, harmonious synthesis under Shah Jahan’s rule. Construction activity peaked under his rule, particularly in Delhi and Agra. The public and private audience’s respective ceremonial rooms (Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-am) were meticulously planned. These courts, known as “Chihil Sutton,” or forty-pillared halls, were situated inside a huge courtyard.

Shah Jahan’s royal pedestal, positioned in the audience rooms to mimic a mosque, was popularly referred to as the “Qibla.” These architectural characteristics showed that the king served as God’s earthly representative.

Question 9. What is pietra-dura?

Answer 9. Pietra dura-coloured hard stones are set in depressions cut into sandstone or marble to produce lovely and elaborate designs. Several pietra dura inlays that showed the fabled Greek deity Orpheus playing the lute could be found behind Shah Jahan’s throne. It was thought that Orpheus’ music could subdue wild animals until they lived alongside people happily.

Question 10. Write about the Mughal Kings’ activities.

Answer 10. The personal interests of Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and notably Shah Jahan lay in literature, art, and building.

Babur talked about how he enjoyed organising and putting up the formal gardens, known as Chahar Bagh, for its symmetrical split into sections. Jahangir and Shah Jahan built some of the most exquisite Chahar baghs in Kashmir, Agra, and Delhi.

The graves of Timur, Akbar’s ancestor from Central Asia, inspired his architectural style. First seen in Humayun’s tomb, the towering central dome and the lofty doorway later became significant features of Mughal architecture.

The mausoleum was constructed according to the “eight paradises” or hasht bihisht tradition, with a central hall flanked by eight chambers in the middle of a large traditional Chahar bagh. Red sandstone was used to build the structure, while white marble was used for the edges.

The historians note a substantial amount of construction work, particularly in Agra and Delhi, under the rule of Shah Jahan. The public and private audience ceremonial rooms (diwan-i Khas or am) were thoughtfully designed. The audience halls for Shah Jahan were intentionally designed to mimic mosques. He constructed the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Lal Qila in Delhi, and the Jama Masjid.

Question 11. How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?

Answer 11. Temples were built as worship houses and intended to show the patron’s might, riches, and devotion. The temples contained scale replicas of the globe the king and his supporters governed. For instance, King Rajarajadeva constructed the Rajarajeshvara temple so his God, Rajarajeshvaram, could be worshipped there. The names of the gods and the kings were typically extremely similar. The king chose the name of God because it was fortunate, and he wanted to seem to be a deity. One deity (Rajarajadeva) praised another through the devotional ceremonies performed at the temple (Rajarajeshvaram).

Question 12. What accomplishments did Sultan Iltutmish do that earned him recognition and respect universally?

Answer 12. Sultan Iltutmish was lauded for building tanks and reservoirs to store valuable water. Sultan Iltutmish earned acclaim for building a sizable reservoir next to Hauz-i- Sultani, often known as the “King’s Reservoir.”

Question 13. The Kings built structures for what purposes?

Answer 13. To gain their favour, kings built buildings for their convenience and usage. Others, such as merchants, also engaged in construction activities. To give labourers a place to work, Akbar constructed the Agra Fort. It took 8,000 workers, 2000 cement and lime producers, and 2,000 stone cutters to build the Agra Fort.

Every time a new dynasty rose to power, the kings sought to underline their moral authority. In a time of constant political transition, building halls of worship allowed kings to declare their close relationship with God. In addition, rulers strove to make their capital cities and towns renowned cultural hubs that gave reputation to their authority and their region by offering patronage to the educated and devout.

Question 14. What are the elements of a Mughal Chahar bagh garden?

Answer 14. The Char Bagh Gardens were landscaped areas enclosed in rectangular walls and separated into four sections by man-made canals. Due to their symmetrical partition into quarters, these gardens were referred to as “Chahar bagh” or “four gardens.” According to historians, the “riverfront garden” is a version of the Chahar bagh garden. This house was not in the centre of the Chahar bagh but rather towards its border and river bank.

Question 15. What was written about Alauddin in the Quwwat-al-Islam mosque’s inscription?

Answer 15. Alauddin was selected as king by God because, according to an inscription in the Quwwat al-Islam mosque, he possessed the traits of Moses and Solomon, two of history’s greatest lawgivers. God himself was the greatest architect and creator. Out of chaos, he brought order and symmetry into the universe.

Question 16. Give the name of the temple Rajarajadeva constructed.

Answer 16. King Rajarajadeva constructed the Rajarajeshvara Temple so his God, Rajarajeshvaram, could be worshipped there. The monarch chose the deity’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to seem like a god, Raja and the temple have similar names. One deity was honoured by another god through the rituals of devotion performed in the temple.

Question 17. Write a piece on the Khajuraho Temples.

Answer 17. Royal temples at the Khajuraho complex in Madhya Pradesh were off-limits to commoners. Sculptures that were intricately carved were used to embellish the temples. The Chandela dynasty constructed most of the Khajuraho temples between 950 and 1050.

Question 18. How is it fair to assert that the Mughals built their structures in a regional architectural style?

Answer 18. Mughal architecture reflected the influence of regional architectural styles. The Mughals built their structures in a regional architectural style, as seen in the following examples:

• A distinctive building style with a roof that resembled a thatched hut was quite common in Bengal. It was known as the “Bangla dome.” The “Bangla domes” were much liked by the Muslim kings, who built numerous of them.
• Fatehpur Sikri served as the seat of the Mughal dynasty’s Emperor Akbar. Several buildings had a strong Gujarati and Malwa influence.

Question 19. Describe the Kandariya Mahadeva temple in some detail.

Answer 19. The following is some information about the Kandariya Mahadeva temple:

• Dhangadeva, a monarch of the Chandela dynasty, oversaw the construction of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.
• This building was built in the year 999.
• Its framework comprises a decorated gateway and an entryway.
• Dances were performed in the temple’s main room, or “maha mandapa”.
• Lord Shiva was the object of adoration in the temple.
• The monarch, his family, and the priests would visit the main shrine, known as the “garbhagriha,” to pray and subsequently, the monarch got his image constructed in the garbhagriha.

Question 20. Who contributed to the construction of Qutub Minar?

Answer 20. Qutb Minar was built with the assistance of two kings. These are who they are:

• Qutbuddin Aybak, the first Sultan of Delhi, began work on the Qutb Minar in 1199. He could not finish the construction and only built the basement.
• The building of the Qutb Minar was finished by Iltutmish, who succeeded him as Sultan.

Qutbuddin Aybak and Iltutmish, the two kings of the Delhi Sultanate, were therefore supposed to have participated in the building of the Qutb Minar.

The above section of Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 covers all the chapter’s important concepts.

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We at Extramarks know how essential it is to answer important questions. As a result, we have come up with Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5. The need for going over important questions for a subject like a history, which requires a lot of reading, is continually emphasised to students. Students gather confidence by answering the important questions and going over their solutions. 

Mentioning below are some benefits of solving Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5:

• Students can entirely rely upon these important questions as these are made following all the guidelines laid by CBSE.
• Important Questions Class 7 Social Science Our Pasts 2 Chapter 5 covers the concepts of the entire chapter- Rulers and Buildings.
• History comprises vast chapters—all the intricacies of the chapters in these important questions by Extramarks.

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